Chapter 29: Who's the fairest of them all?

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. Nothing is special this day ngunit maaga ring gumising sina Andi at Therese. They were sitting across me at kasalukuyan akong tinatanong tungkol sa date namin ni Khael kagabi. Nang dumating kasi ako ay tulog na sila.

"Spill it Amber, what happened? Naka-homerun na ba si Khael?", excited na tanong ni Therese. She was very lively when it comes to this topic.

Binato ko siya ng unan. What does homerun means? Hindi ba sa baseball iyan? I realized it has another meaning dahil sa kakaibang ngiti nito.

"Shut up Res, nothing happened. We just played in the arcade, kumanta siya kahit napakawala sa tono niya and then we went to restaurant and have dinner. There's a poisoning happened in that restaurant and then he solved the case and that's it, hinatid na niya ako dito", wika ko and I saw their faces become disappointed. What now? That's really what happened.

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa and they frowned. "That's worst than ditching his date."

It was really a fine date. I was amazed by his intelligent deduction with that poisoning case. He solved the case in a short time kaya nakakabilib ito.

"Haay nako, simula talaga nang magkaroon ka ng existence dito sa Bridle ay palagi ka na lang napapasubo sa mga kaso and things like those", Therese said. Oh, really? Hindi naman siguro. I just don't want to get involved before kahit pa kating-kati na ako dati na sabihin kung sino man ang may mga kasalanan.

Getting involved is not really that bad. I remember a quote says 'Speak the truth even if your voice shakes' kaya hindi na masama kung sabihin ko man ang katotohanan behind those cases.

"Hindi naman siguro", wika ko at tumayo. "I'll be using the bathroom first", wika ko at nagtungo sa CR.

When I went out ay nag-uusap pa rin sina Andi at Therese. They were discussing about the upcoming school festival, which will be next week.

Wait.

What?!

Next week? Ang bilis naman yata. Bridle's School festival are usually week long kaya magsisimula iyon sa Lunes at matatapos ng Byernes.

"It's already announced the few weeks at malamang hindi ka na naman nagbabasa sa mga announcement doon sa bulletin board", wika ni Andi.

Nang pumasok na ako ay tungkol rin sa school festival ang pinag-uusapan ng mga kaklase ko. Nakikipag-usap din sa kanila si Gray. It seems like he's not a sulking machine this time, unlike kahapon.

Last night ng inabangan niya ako sa may gate ay hindi niya ako kinakausap. I keep on asking him kung ano ang ginagawa niya doon ngunit hindi niya ako sinasagot kaya hindi ko na rin ito kinausap hanggang sa dumating ako sa dorm. Hinatid niya ako doon and then he left immediately nang hindi pa rin ako kinausap. Nang namataan niya ako ay ngumiti siya sa akin at tinawag ako. Uh, he smiled at me? Himala!

"Amber, look at the events on the festival", wika niya at iwinagayway ang hawak na papel. After I put down my bag ay lumapit ako sa kanila at tiningnan iyon.

There were lots of events; literary, musical, sports, club presentations na gaganapin sa cultural night and a masquerade party.

Masquerade party?! Sounds terrifying. Kapag naalala ko ang masquerade party noong ipinakilala si Marion ay natatakot ako.

Tinuro ni Gray ang isang event sa sports section, which is soccer. "I'm so excited for this."

Yeah, I guess he's a soccer kid by heart. Mukhang ito yata ang nagpagaan sa mood nito, unlike yesterday.

Dumating na ang adviser namin. She announced about the upcoming festival.

"Class, since the festival will be next week, I will give you time to plan about your events na sasalihan. As of now, a memo just arrived that we're required to suspend the classes dahil club meetings ngayon. So you may now proceed to your various clubs." We replied yes Ma'am in chorus at umalis na upang pumunta sa kanya-kanyang club.

"Gray what club did you join?", tanong ni Marion. Sinasamantala nito ang magandang mood ni Gray.

"I joined the martial arts club. Why?", tanong niya kay Marion. Oh, martial arts club is where Gray really belong.

Lumabi naman si Marion. "I don't have a club yet at ayaw ko rin namang sumali sa martial arts club. I'll break my nails there."

Lumapit ako kay Marion. I guess she suits in the Theatre and Drama Club. "Then join the theatre and drama club Marion."

She hesitated for a while ngunit kapagkuway pumayag na rin. "I guess that will be a good choice Amber."

Sinama ko si Marion sa office ng drama and theatre club. Marami na rin ang naroon ng makarating kami. I immediately approached Mia upang ipakilala sa kanya si Marion.

"Mia, please consider her. She's my classmate Marion and she wants to join the club", wika ko kay Mia. Tumayo naman ang huli at kinilatis ng mabuti si Marion. She turns around Marion at matamang tiningnan ito mula ulo hanggang paa. Uh, Mia's weird sometimes.

Sinundan siya ni Marion ng tingin kahit nagtataka. I'm sure Mia will approve Marion in the club. Napakaganda kaya nito! For sure ay magiging bida ito sa mga play ng club kapag nagkataon.

"Okay, she's in", nakangiting wika ni Mia. Yeah, that fast.

"Uhm, aren't you gonna make me sign an application form and then undergo an audition?", tanong ni Marion sa kanya. Marahil ay nagtataka ito sa immediate recruitment.

Umiling naman si Mia. "No, you already passed my standards. At isa pa, I'm sure babagay ka sa play na gagawin natin ngayong school festival aside from the fact I trust Amber in choosing someone she will recommend", she said and let out a victorious smile.

Inutusan na niya kaming maupo dahil magsisimula na ang meeting. The club officers commence the meeting at agad nilang inilahad ang agenda ng pagtitipon.

"Since the school festival is fast approaching at nakagawiang may club presentations tayo every cultural night kaya iyan ang pag-uusapan natin ngayon. It's not a contest but the best presentation would actually gain accreditations for outdoor contest and interschool competitions kaya nais nating pagbutihan ang presentation natin. You want accreditations, right?"

Sabay sabay na nag-yes ang bawat isa at halatang excited sa gagawin na presentation. Yeah, Bridle students are into these things. Ako? I don't exist in the school festival before. Sa mga club presentations ay palaging nasa production staff ako.

School festival is just normal day for me. Ngayong taon lang naman ako nagkaroon ng play appearance simula nang mapasa kay Mia ang tungkulin bilang club president. The previous president was good ngunit tila hangin lang ako sa kanyang paningin. She doesn't even consider my ideas. Mabuti na lang talaga at gumradweyt na ito.

Mia stood up at ito naman ang nagsalita sa harap. "So for this year's presentation, we're planning of something new. Hindi na tayo gagawa ng play na existing na. What we're going to do ay tayo ang gagawa ng storya mula sa mga existing na characters."

Nagsimulang magbulong-bulongan ang bawat isa. They were amazed by Mia's brilliant idea and they were wondering what will be her concept.

"The play will be entitled Who's the fairest of them all. The idea will be like this; gagamitin natin ang mga fairytale heroines. We will have Cinderella, Snow White, Belle of Beauty and the Beast, Aurora of Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine of Aladdin."

"Miss President", tawag ng isang club member. "Ano naman ang gagawin nilang lima?"

"Oo nga, ano ba ang flow ng play?"

Mia waved her hand. "I'm not done yet. It's not like in the fairytale. There's a twist. There will be only one prince and the five heroines will offer everything to win the prince's love."

Mas lalong umingay ang paligid. Mia's idea was really great. Mukhang maganda ang naisip nito. Not the usual fairy tale na masyado ng gasgas sa mga drama at play.

Nagulat ako ng magtaas ng kamay si Marion. "Who will be chosen by the prince then?", excited nitong tanong. Looks like she's into one of the main role.

Napangiti naman si Mia. "Good question and the answer is no one. Wala sa lima ang pipiliin ng prinsipe dahil mamamatay siya the moment the heroines offer him their possesions."

Nadismaya naman ang lahat sa sinabi ni Mia. A tragedy, eh? "Don't be dismayed. We're still working on the story. As of now, ang kailangan muna natin ay pumili ng mga magiging character. Practice a short line of your own preference at magsisimula na ang audition after 30 minutes."

Nag-isip naman ng mga linya ang bawat isa. Even Marion was thinking of a famous play lines. Mukhang interesado talaga ito sa papel na maaring gampanan.

Well me? I don't think I'll be joining kaya lumabas muna ako ng office dahil abala pa ang bawat isa sa loob. Nakatayo ako sa labas ng club office nang bigla na lamang dumating si Gray. He was sweating, mukhang galing ito sa pagtakbo. Nang makarating siya sa harap ko ay hinabol niya ang hiniha at napahawak sa kanyang tuhod. Oh, what's up with him?

"Hey, anong nangyari sayo? You're sweating", wika ko sa kanya habang tinitingnan siya. Kinuha nito ang panyo mula sa bulsa at pinunasan ang mukha at leeg. He looks so handsome kahit na pawis ito. Nagmukha tuloy itong model nang panyo sa paraan ng pagpunas nito sa sarili.

Wait. Where did those words come from Amber?

Iwinagayway niya sa harap ko ang isang nilakumos na papel. Kinuha ko iyon mula sa kanya at ibinuklat.

What's this? A piece of trash? Nang buklatin ko iyon ay nagulat ako ng makita iyon. it was just some punctuation marks.

• • • - - - • • •

Isinulat iyon gamit ang isang marker. The paper where it was written was just a small piece and it looks like it was torn from a small notebook.

"Where did you get this?", tanong ko sa kanya habang nakatingin sa papel.

"I found it near the boys' dorm", wika niya.

"Hey, isn't this a Morse code?", tanong ko kay Gray. He seem to have gathered enough air na nawala niya mula sa pagtatakbo.

"Yeah, that's why I brought it to you. What do you make of it?"

I glanced at the paper again. "This? If we decipher it, it's SOS, a Morse code sign of standard emergency signal. Ibig sabihin may nangangailangan ng tulong."

"Yes, it's recognized as signal of distress. Do you think someone needs help?", tanong niya.

Some students may have purposely written it. "Hindi naman siguro. Someone just wrote that out of boredom", sagot ko sa kanya.

"That's what I thought at first too, but Marcus picked up another", kinuha niya ang isa pang papel na nilakumos mula sa bulsa at ibinigay sa akin. Nang tingnan ko iyon ay ganoon pa rin ang nakasulat and it was torn out from the same type of paper.

"And not just Marcus, may tatlo pang mga estudyante ang nakapulot ng ganyan pa rin. They picked it up near the dorm too, and I don't think it's some sort of prank."

What? Not just one or two? I guess someone might need help really.

"Where do you think we can find this someone who's been sending these SOS signs?", tanong ko sa kanya. He shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm clueless where exactly is the location but kung sino man ang nangangailangan ng tulong ay malapit lang ito ng boys' dorm. All these papers were found near the dorm kaya marahil inilipad iyon ng hangin that's why it's just nearby", he said.

Napaisip kami sandali kung saan ba namin hahanapin ang nagsusulat ng SOS sign. We're busy thinking nang isang lalaki ang lumapit sa amin.

"Gray Silvan right? Please help me. I'm Kino Dela Cruz, a grade 12 student. Nawawala ang kaklase ko mula kahapon. Ginagawa namin ang initiation rites para sa sinasalihan naming frat. We're tasked to put itching powder sa mga towel ng varsity na naliligo sa CR ng gym. It was yesterday afternoon but he hasn't return yet", kwento nito. "Please help me."

"Hindi mo ba siya hinanap? Maybe he was just trapped somewhere", wika ko sa kanya. He shook his head.

"He's nowhere to be found. Tinanong ko rin ang mga varsity players kung nakita ba nila si Jed but they said no."

"If that's the case, how can we help you?", tanong ni Gray ditto.

If he can't find his friend, mas lalo kami. We don't even know his friend's appearance. And why are they even joining a frat and do those initiation rites? Uh, those things don't make sense at all. Frats are crazy stuffs na naiisip ng mga estudyante. Big frats or those they called brotherhood could useful sometimes but frats whose ultimate motives are just to make them cool and annoy other people are all crap.

Inilabas ng lalaki ang kanyang cellphone at ipinakita iyon sa amin. It was a text message from someone named Jed.

"Pinadala ito ni Jed, ngunit pakiramdam ko kung sino man ang nagtago sa kanya ang siya ngayon na may dala sa cellphone ni Jed and he's the one who send me this weird message", wika niya. He showed us the text message which he thought a clue to where his friend can be found. "I've tried calling him but he's out of service. Marahil ay nakapatay na ang cellphone niya."

I frowned when I saw the message. There was nothing to be considered there as a clue. It was just numbers repeated many times.

76755 76755 76755 76755

"What's with the repeating numbers? I don't have any idea about that numbers, if it would be repeating 6, I would have been able to decipher that it's a number from the illuminati", wika ko.

Oh, well, maybe it does to Gray. He seems to be focused on staring at those numbers. Ipapaubaya ko na sa kanya ang pag-iisip kung ano man ang ibig sabihin niyon.

76755.

Nag-isip ako ng mga maaring ciphers. If we would assigned alphabet to it, it would be GFGEE and it doesn't make sense at all kaya using alpabeth is impossible.

Hmm, math equation? 7 + 6 = 13 + 6 =19 + 7 = 26 + - It still doesn't make sense.

"Hmm, I now get it", Gray said at sabay kaming napatingin ni Kino sa kanya.

"Really? You already know the meaning behind that text message?", tanong ko but he shook his head. Huh? He just said that he understand it right?

"You just said that you already get it."

"Yeah, but not the guy's location. What I know is that this text message isn't send by whoever kept your friend, instead this text message is sent by that Jed himself", puno ng kumpiyansa niyang wika. Oh, Gray could never be wrong in his deductions. Ang napapansin ko kasi sa kanya ay hindi diya nagsasalita kapag hindi pa siya sigurado sa ideya na nasa isip niya.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin? If Jed typed this message himself, why would he type things like this kung maari naman niyang itype kung nasaan man siya", Kino said and I agreed. Mas tama yatang ang lokasyon nito mismo ang itinext nito sa halip na mga numero.

"About that, I don't think he's capable of typing something that will reveal wherever he is. Dahil sa ganitong paraan niya itinype ito, I guess he's somewhere wherein he cannot use his hands freely. Maybe he's tied up or something kaya marahil ang nagagawa niya ay magtype ng mga numbers na may ibig sabihin. Maybe his phone is defaulted in alphanumeric keys kaya numbers instead of letters ang kanyang text", he said at iniabot na kay Kino ang cellphone nito.

He's right. There's a big possibility na nakatali nga si Jed kaya hindi niya malayang nagagamit ang mga kamay. Nang muli kong sulyapan si Gray ay matamang nag-isip ito.

"Ah, I guess this has something to do with the Morse code SOS papers", wika niya.

Is it possible na si Jed na kaibigan ni Kino, who sent him some weird number text message and the one who throws SOS sign in morse code is the same person? If he's kept somewhere where he cannot use his hands freely, it's possible that he's the one making those SOS, the penmanship on that paper is shaky kaya posible iyon.

"Yeah, maybe he's the same person who keeps on throwing those SOS signs. He wrote SOS in morse code instead in alphabet ay dahil nasa hindi magandang sitwasyon ito ngayon, that's why he wasn't able to write it properly", wika ko and he nodded.

"Yeah, 767. In a non-qwerty keypad, S can be found in the key number 7, O is in the key 6 at sa 7 ulit ang S", wika ni Gray. "What I don't get is the next numbers, 55? It doesn't make sense at all."

I glanced at my watch. It's been fifteen minutes since Mia's allocated time bago magsimula ang audition. I looked back at the club office. Marahil ay abala na ang bawat isa doon, they're into the festival anyway. I stared at the office and noticed something on the wall. On the building's wall was written A1-5.

It's the name of the building. Bridle's buildings were labelled gaya ng A1 with five floors and such building was allocated to the club offices.

Building A2-2 ay ang two floors science laboratory. Building B1-5 ay ang five floors building allocated to the section A students. Building B2-5 ay para naman sa mga section B students and so on.

"Gray, I think that SOS sign is from Building G-5", wika ko. Building G was a five floor depreciated building that was scheduled to be demolished at papalitan ng bago. If someone would be keeping a person, it would be in an abandoned place.

"G5? That's to be demolished next week right?", Kino asked.

Gray smiled. "Yeah, maybe. 76755 means an SOS emergency call from Building G-5 and on its fifth floor", he said.

"Edi pumunta na tayo doon", wika ni Kino at pumunta na kami doon.

Building G was a little bit far dahil nasa may likod iyon ng boys' dormitory. Nang makarating kami doon ay may nakita na naman kaming papel na may SOS sign.

"No doubt, it's really here", Gray said at pumasok na kami roon. He pulled the shutters at sumunod kami sa kanya.

The building was a mess. Mukhang hindi na iyon matibay kaya masyadong delikado. Bridle used to be an 50 year old school kaya may mga gusali na hindi matitibay. It was bought by Mr. Bridle and renovated the school, making it one of the famous elite schools. It was now designed modernly.

We hurried towards the fifth floor at gaya nga ng inaasahan ay may lalaking nakatali doon. His hands and feet were tied at may busal ang bibig. Nasa tabi nito ang cellphone at mga piraso ng mga punit na papel. Maybe those where remnants of the paper that he used in making the SOS code. May marker din doon sa kanyang gilid. Agad namin siyang pinakawalan doon.

"Salamat at iniligtas ninyo ako!", he said ng makawala siya. "Damn those frat guys! Tinali nila ako dito! Those guys were rascals, curse them!", wika niya. He expressed his gratitude to us at gayundin sa kaibigan niyang si Kino.

"Thanks bro, akala ko ay mamamatay na ako dito. Grabe ang pagkakatali nila, I can't move my hand kaya I wrote the easier way but I'm doubting na may makapansin sa Morse cose SOS sign na sinulat ko", wika niya.

Ngumiti naman si Kino. "It's because of them kaya sila ang dapat mong pasalamatan. Napakatalino nila at naintindihan nila ang SOS sign at maging ang weird text message mo", wika ni Kino. Bumaling ng tingin sa amin si Jed.

"I'm really thankful to both of you. The news about you was really true. You two are smart", he said.

"Umalis na tayo dito, baka masira pa to", wika ni Kino. We all agreed at bumaba na kami doon. Nauna nang bumaba sina Kino at Jed.

"Simple codes and ciphers could really take time sometimes, right?", wika ni Gray habang naglalakad kami.

"Oo nga", I said habang tumatango. Tama siya, those simple ones ay ang madalas na kino-complicate ng mga tao. Nagulat na lang ako nang may naapakan si Gray and the floor cracked at nalaglag si Gray! Mabuti na lang at nakahawak pa ito sa matigas pa na sahig.

"Shit! Grab my hands Gray", wika ko sa kanya at inabot ang kamay niya upang mahila ko siya pataas. He held my hand and was about to pull him up nang ang inaapakan ko naman ang nasira, causing the two of us fall together!

Kahit hindi iyon kataasan ay masakit pa rin mahulog! I shouted as I felt my body falling kaya napapikit na lang ako nang makarinig ako ng mahinang lagapak but I didn't feel anything on my body.

When I opened my eyes, I was on top of Gray! This is so embarrassing! He was looking at me and I was looking at him! I wanted to stand up but my body doesn't seem to cooperate! Sa halip ay nanigas ako at hindi makagalaw. We were both staring at each other and no one dared to move and ruin the moment.

I don't know how long have we been staring at each other nang bigla na lang may nagsalita.

"Gray, Amber are you- " hindi na natuloy ni Kino ang sasabihin nang makita kami. "Uh, get a room."

What?! Get a room?

Nang marinig namin iyon ay saka pa lamang kami tila natauhan at biglang napatayo!

"A-are you fine Amber?", Gray asked me without looking at me. Same as me! Hindi ko siya matingnan ng deretso after our staring session! God, this is so not me!

"Y-yeah. H-How about you?"

"Yeah, I'm fine though my back hurt", he said. "Halika na, this place is not safe."

This is really embarrassing but I've got no choice kaya sumunod na ako sa kanya palabas ng building.

Bumalik na ako sa Drama club office matapos magpaalam sa kanila. Pagdating ko doon ay nagsisimula na nga ang audition.

I looked around at hinanap si Marion. I found her on the corner kaya nagpunta ako doon at umupo sa tabi niya.

"Are you done?", tanong ko sa kanya. Her gaze were focused on the audition kaya malamang ay nag-aassess din ito sa performance ng bawat isa.

"Not yet. How about you? You're not joining?", tanong niya sa akin and I shrugged my shoulders. Maybe I'll just help Mia on the script.

Marion pouted. "I wonder why you didn't join the book club. I've heard from our classmates that you're a nerd kahit hindi naman halata."

Oh yeah, nerd huh? I thought I wasn't dubbed as nerd but it seems like Amber and Nerd are meant for each other. I rolled my eyes upon the thought.

"The book club's president before was my schoolmate in elementary who used to bully me kaya hindi ako sumali roon", wika ko. Kahit gusto kong doon sumali ay ayaw ko rin namang ma-bully! That girl is really mean! She put a wad of gums on my hair before.

Hindi na nakasagot pa si Marion dahil tinawag na ang number nito. She winked at me bago tumayo at nagpunta sa harap. The moment she went there ay marami na ang humanga sa kanya. Yeah, that's Marion. You'll simply adore her by just looking at her.

She started her audition piece which was a line from Frankenstein. I was thinking she would use something more feminine. Nonetheless, mahusay ang ginagawa nito. Mararamdaman mo ang puso ni Marion sa ginagawa niya. After a while ay natapos na ang bawat isa. Mia tallied the scores at pumunta sa harap.

"Okay, we already have our casting for the five heroines", wika niya at excited ang lahat. I'm sure Marion would get a role dahil magaling ito.

"For Cinderella, we'll have Trisha. Snow White will be Rica, Jasmine will be Candice, Belle will be Marion and lastly Aurora will be Amber", wika ni Mia.

See? I told you na makakakuha talaga ng role si Marion kahit pa bago pa lamang ito sa club!

Nagulat na lang ako ng sabay na tumingin sa akin ang mga member ng club, there was the surprise look in their faces. Uh what's with them?

Kinalabit ko si Marion sa tabi ko. "Hey, why are they all staring at me like that? Galit ba sila akin? I didn't do anything." Katakot-takot kasi ang tingin nila sa akin.

Ngumiti si Marion. "Exactly. You didn't do anything but you've got Aurora's role."

Whaaaaaaaaaat?! Aurora?! I've got Aurora's role?

Tumayo ang isang babae at tinuro ako. "But she didn't audition! Paano naman niya nakuha ang role?!"

"I appointed her", Mia said. Tumayo ako at lumapit kay Mia. I pulled her on the corner upang makausap ito.

"Mia, what is it this time?", I asked her. Mukhang gustong-gusto talaga nitong isali ako. She was grinning ear to ear!

"I appointed you. Alam mo bang positive ang feedback ng mga taga-Bridle and even the outsiders nang i-portray ninyo ni Gray ang Romeo and Juliet? The only negative review there was about that guy who went upstairs. The audience wondered why you didn't finish the play", wika niya. Yeah, it was the part where Khael stopped Gray from drinking the poison.

"But Mia-"

Pinutol niya ang sasabihin ko at bumalik na sa harap. "My decision is final and irrevocable."

Bagsak ang balikat na bumalik ako sa upuan ko at nilagpasan ang mga mapanuring tingin ng mga club members. I heard them mumbling something like how lucky I am to be an appointee.

Uh, lucky eh? I don't think so.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.